Preparing for What's to Come - Your Nightly Prayer - April 1st

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Preparing for What’s to Come
Your Nightly Prayer
by Angie Grant

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

“Leave her alone, said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.” - Mark 14:6

SOMETHING TO PONDER

God values quiet acts of worship, as shown in Mark chapter 14. Mary of Bethany shows us that worship does not have to be loud or for show, but deeply personal and costly. She did not announce herself or look for attention, but what she gave meant a lot to Jesus.

When Mary knelt at Jesus’ feet, the people nearby did not understand what she was doing. To them, it seemed wasteful, but to her, it was worship. They saw something extravagant, but she saw it as obedience. Mary knew her actions were sacred. In her heart, she was preparing Jesus for what was coming at the cross, even though others could not yet see or understand it.

Only Jesus understood her heart. While others criticized her, pointing out the perfume's cost and how wasteful it was given its value, Jesus defended her. 

When I think of Mary, I think of deep obedience. I imagine that in her own eyes, her worship may have felt small or insignificant, especially in light of what Jesus was facing. Or maybe it felt like even she didn’t understand what she felt prompted to do, but did it anyway. No matter what was behind her actions, or even the thought process, it was profoundly meaningful to Christ. He received it, affirmed it, and declared it beautiful. Worship is His love language. 

Living for Jesus is a life marked by surrender and sacrifice. And I’ll be honest; there was a season in my own walk where I had to ask myself if my life still reflected that. Early on, as a church planter, surrender and sacrifice were obvious. Everything felt costly. But as our church grew, life became more comfortable. I found myself in a place where I thought, nothing feels like it’s costing me anything anymore.

You know that still, small voice, the one that gently but persistently invites us to examine our hearts? I began praying, “Lord, show me what worship looks like in this season.” And the prayer He led me to was simple but dangerous: “Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours.” I find that when we pray prayers like that, He shows us the next steps. That’s when worship shifted. It wasn’t about doing more or being seen yet; it began on my knees. Quiet. Unnoticed. Costly in a different way. Like Mary, it didn’t always make sense on the outside. But Jesus understood. And that was enough. The most beautiful parts of our stories are usually because we have both sacrificed and surrendered His will over ours. 

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Dear Jesus,
Help my worship reflect that of Mary, sacrificial and full of surrender. May I be obedient when I sense you leading me to do something that, in the natural, doesn’t make sense. May I not look around at others, but to you. May your will become my will as I seek you with my whole heart. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Have I incorporated quiet acts of worship throughout my day?

2. Has my life with Jesus reflected surrender and sacrifice?

3. Do I spend time listening to the voice of others, or is God’s voice the loudest?

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

 Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/ Priscilla Du Preez

Angie Grant is passionate about helping others become the best versions of themselves—whether in family life, ministry leadership, or in supporting schools and educators. She’s all in! Her greatest joys—besides Jesus and her husband, Stan—are the four who call her “Mom” (three biological and one through the gift of adoption). An even sweeter title? “Lolli” to her five grandkids.

Angie holds a degree in Child and Family Studies and currently serves on the staff at Cloverhill Church, where she and her husband have been leading for over 25 years. She is the Executive Director of Cloverhill Christian Academy, located in Midlothian, Virginia. Angie is a dedicated advocate for foster children and families, and also serves as a Trust-Based Relational Intervention Practitioner, offering support in her community and beyond. In addition to her roles in church and education, Angie contributes her insight and leadership as a board member for Families First and the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services.

How does she do it all? With purpose and passion—as a coach in family life, ministry, and schools, Angie brings experience, empathy, and a heart for helping others thrive.

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